Marc Dilasser (FRA) and Arioto du Gevres (Diamant de Semilly x Qualisco III) have been shining together on the international circuit for more than eight years, and Dilasser did not hide his feelings for the 15-year-old bay after the two won Sunday’s CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix de la Ville de Chantilly at Chantilly Classic 2025. “We’re like an old couple, and right now we’re going through a great phase, so we’re enjoying every minute,” he said. The Normandy-based rider managed his gelding’s weekend to perfection: A flawless win on Thursday in the first qualifier, two days of rest, and triumph this Sunday in the Grand Prix de la Ville de Chantilly.
p>Under a blazing sun, an expert and enthusiastic French crowd stayed put to watch all fifty starters tackle a long course of 13 fences and 16 efforts – this week’s standard-designed, like every test here, by Olympic course-builder Grégory Bodo (FRA). Dilasser paid tribute: “It was a classic Greg course. On the course walk you don’t always see where the difficulties are, but in fact it’s everywhere. We’re lucky in France to have such a talented and experienced course designer. Today he produced a very demanding Grand Prix, yet still twelve clears, and a jump-off full of five-star riders. Chapeau!”
In the jump-off, Nicolas Delmotte (FRA) and Jordan Molga M (Etoulon x HGT Dulf van den Bisschop) set the early standard with a smooth round, but in the end, it all came down to a Franco-British showdown between Marc Dilasser and double Olympic champion Scott Brash (GBR) on Hello Valentino (Diamantino x Careful 28). Dilasser struck first: 39.68. Brash gave chase but finished 0.93 hundredth slower in 40.61.
“Arioto is an exceptional horse, we’ve always known that,” Dilasser said. “Tonight, on the drive home I’ll try to count how many Grands Prix he’s already won… there are quite a few! I’m so proud of him; he’s a fighter, a real warrior. He’s the show-horse you dream of; lightning-fast, and he just loves his job. Today everything was perfect. Grand Prix Events always puts on a great show, and in a setting like this, in this weather, with such a crowd, it’s fantastic.”
After his round, Dilasser jumped off his horse and rushed to the rail to watch Scott Brash’s jump-off from the edge of the arena: “I was praying!” he laughed. “There’d be no shame in finishing second to Scott, but luckily Arioto is naturally very quick – quicker than a lot of horses, fast off the ground…”
Brash, disappointed in expression but gracious in words, declared: “I’m very happy with Valentino. He jumped fantastically today. I think I lost it on the last. I just couldn’t get the forward distance; I felt too slow there. I wish he’d dived in a bit more, but he jumped really well. I’m delighted with the horse.”
